In 2004, Suman Goel returned to the Delhi government school where she had once studied, but this time she stood on the other side of the classroom. She was pursuing college and began teaching for just Rs 60 a day, using the modest income to support her education. More than two decades later, that same school has become the place where she built her career as a primary teacher.Goel, now 41, has been selected for the National Teachers’ Award 2026 for her work at GSKV Pooth Kalan in Rohini. Her journey from a financially difficult childhood to one of the country’s top teaching honours has been shaped by an approach that goes beyond textbooks, with a strong focus on children’s well-being, inclusion and foundational learning.
Suman Goel (Photo: FB)
The school where her own journey began
Goel had topped Class 12 from the same school in 2002. She later enrolled in BA at Lakshmibai College, but financial constraints meant she began teaching while continuing her studies.Her early earnings were around Rs 1,200-1,300 a month. She eventually secured a government teacher’s position in 2009 and has been serving as a primary teacher at her old school since 2013.Her own experiences as a student influenced the way she approached teaching. Rather than viewing her role as limited to classroom lessons, she began paying close attention to the circumstances in which her students were growing up.
Why she calls herself a ‘mother teacher’
Goel describes her approach as that of a mother teacher — someone who stays closely connected with a group of children through their early years of schooling.Many of her students are first-generation learners from areas around Pooth Kalan, Krishan Vihar and Mangey Ram Park. Their families include contractual workers, tailors and daily-wage labourers.For such students, Goel believes learning cannot be separated from basic well-being. She keeps spare stationery and sweaters for children who may need them, monitors their participation in the PM Poshan scheme and supports health-related activities.She has also conducted tooth-brushing activities under an ICMR initiative and helps administer iron tablets to students as part of the school’s health-related practices.
Rs 60 a day to National Teachers’ Award: How Suman Goel went from student to award-winning teacher at the same Delhi school. (Photo: FB)
Making the classroom inclusive
One of the most important aspects of Goel’s work has been her engagement with children with special needs.Students with significant intellectual disabilities or medical conditions can sometimes become isolated within mainstream classrooms. Goel has worked to bring such children into classroom activities, encourage interaction with classmates and create peer groups around them.Her approach is aimed not only at academic participation but also at helping children develop social connections and a sense of belonging.
A Maths kit and books written by her students
Goel’s work has also focused on foundational learning.She developed a NIPUN Maths Kit to help students strengthen basic numeracy skills. The kit was selected at the state level under NIPUN Sankalp. According to the information provided, all her Class 4 students achieved the targeted foundational literacy and numeracy goals.Her efforts have extended beyond academics as well. Students have taken part in state-level drama and presentation events, while some former students were encouraged to develop their ideas in writing. Around a dozen students eventually had their work published through a children’s publishing platform.
From wanting to become a doctor to becoming a teacher
Goel’s original career ambition was very different. She studied in Haryana until Class 10 and wanted to pursue science and become a doctor. After her family moved to Delhi amid financial difficulties, that plan changed.Teaching eventually became both a means of continuing her education and a profession that allowed her to support other children facing circumstances similar to those she had experienced.She had already received the State Teachers Award before being selected for the National Teachers’ Award.The national recognition now brings her journey full circle — from a student at the school to a teacher shaping the next generation there.For Goel, the award represents not just an individual achievement but the contribution of primary teachers who work closely with children and families, often handling responsibilities that extend well beyond the classroom.Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available information and inputs provided by the source. TOI Education has not independently verified all claims mentioned above.
